Humidifier

ABSTRACT

An airfoil-type humidifier for installation within the confines of a horizontal furnace duct. No electricity is needed. A hollow shell provides a water trapping container. The water level is controlled by a float valve. The airstream from the furnace blower flows across a pocketed sponge, is moistened, and is effectually humidified for room use.

United States Patent Inventor Benjamin l-. Richardson llebl'on, Ky.Appl. No. 843,363 Filed July 22. 1969 Patented July I3. I97! AssigneeAeropro Enterprises, Inc.

Cincinnati, Ohio HUMIDIFIER 5 Claims, 4 Drawing Figs.

U.S.Cl 126/"3, 261/95 Int. Cl F24! 3/14 Fieidolsurch l26/ll3; 26l/95.99, 104

l 56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,594,636 4/1952 Gazda.26l/95 X 3,l36,829 6/1964 Skerritt l26/l l3 X 3,212,492 l0/l965Himmerich et al. l26/l I3 3,378,238 4Il968 Babington etal..... l26/l 13X 3,472,496 10/1969 Coleman et al l26/l I3 X Primary Examiner- CharlesJ. Myhre Attorneys-Clarence A. O'Brien. Harvey B. Jacobson ABSTRACT: Anairfoil-type humidifier for installation within the confines of ahorizontal furnace duct. No electricity is needed. A hollow shellprovides a water trapping container. The water level is controlled by afloat valve. The airstream from the furnace blower flows across apocketed sponge, is moistened, and is effectually humidified for roomuse.

IIILIIIrII II Room Air Duct PATENTEDJUU 319?: 3,592,182

Benjamin F. Rich ardsan INVENTOR.

HUMIDIFIER This invention relates to certain new and significantlyuseful improvements in a humidifier which is distinct and unique in thatit lends itself to capably acceptable installation and advantageouslyreliable use in a horizontal room air duct at a lo cale adjacent theplenum chamber ofa conventional-type hot air furnace.

Briefly, the humidifier is characterized by a one-piece hol low shellwhich is constructed to provide a container for a predetermined amountof water. This shell is of a size and shape to assume an air moisteningposition within the confines of an ordinary furnace duct. The shell isprovided with selfcontained absorbent filler means. This means islocated in the line or path of movement of the stream of air which isforcibly blown through the passageway of the duct. A float controlledwater supply and level maintaining valve is arranged within the confinesof the container portion of the shell. An appropriate pipelinecommunicatively joins with the valve and it, in turn, is provided with areadily accessible hand regulated cutoff valve.

In carrying out a preferred embodiment of the invention the shellembodies a fiat horizontal bottom wall, longitudinal vertical sidewallsand a convex top wall which has a rounded blunt leading edge and reducedtrailing edge, the profile of the shell being comparable in shape to theairfoil-shape of an airplane wing in a manner to promote and achievemaximurn'air travel efficiency.

Another feature of the invention has to do with the provision in the topwall of a perforated depression. This depression provides a well-likepocket or sump and is of suitable depth. The filler means comprises aporous blocklike sponge and this sponge is fittingly and removablylodged in the pocket and has an exposed top surface which is flush withthe contour of the top wall.

The herein disclosed humidifier is wholly mechanical, requires noelectricity and is economical in use. It requires no special tools forinstallation, is simple in construction and meets with the economicalmass production needs of manufacturers. The likelihood of malfunctioningfrom corrosion or rusting is reduced to a practical minimum. Therequirement of water level control is satisfactorily maintained byappropriate float valve means. The airfoil contour renders the devicenoiseless in operation. The use of a readily available replaceableeasy'to-clean sponge contributes to the overall efficiency of theinvention. Then, too, the construction of the shell can be one-piece andcan be molded from suitable plastic material, aluminum or equivalentforrnable sheet material.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIG. I is a view in side elevation with parts broken away and appearingin section showing a fragmentary portion of a furnace, a portion of aduct connected with the plenum space at the top of the furnace andequipped with a humidifier constructed in accordance with the principlesof the present invention, the humidifier being positioned in theapproximate manner shown to facilitate connection of the valve waterpipe or line therewith.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary detail sectional view takenapproximately on the plane of the section line 2-2 of FIG. 1 looking inthe direction of the arrows.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view on a corresponding scale taken approximatelyon the plane of the vertical section line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a view in perspective showing the shell-type container, alsoshowing the perforated well or sump and the insertable and removable pador sponge.

With reference now to FIG. I the furnace is denoted by the numeral 6 andthe room air delivery duct is denoted at 8 and embodies a horizontalportion whose bottom wall is denoted at 10. In actual practice the areaor zone in which the device is installed can be provided with openableand closable cover means (not shown) to permit access to be had to thedevice.

The humidifier is denoted as a unit by the numeral l2 and is fashionedinto a simple pan or container. It comprises a substantially flat bottomwall [4, a pair of spaced parallel vertical sidewalls 16 and anarcuately curved convex top wall 18. The top wall has its ends merginginto the cooperating edge por tions of the bottom wall to provide arounded or blunt leading edge at 20 and a reduced trailing edge at 22.This top wall has its intermediate portion provided with a comparativelyshallow depression herein designated either as a well or a sump as at24. The bottom and marginal walls are provided with water circulatingholes 26. This sump provides a pocket for reception and retention of aninsertable and removable porous filler. More specifically, this fillercomprises a substantially rectangular properly contoured pad or sponge28. The sponge is such in shape and size that it is fitted within theconfines of the well like pocket as brought out advantageously in FIG.3. The thickness of the sponge corresponds with the depth and shape ofthe pocket and hence the convex surface 30 of the sponge is conformablewith the contoured or convex surface 18 of the top wall. The waterintake pipe is denoted by the nu meral 32 and as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4it has an end portion projecting into the container portion of the shellwhere it is equipped with valve means 34 which is controlled by acoordinating float 36. This type of inlet and float valve means is usedin the construction of prior art humidifiers.

The water delivery pipe or line is denoted by the numeral 38 and has anend portion 40 connected (not shown) with an appropriate source ofsupply. The pipe is also provided with a manually regulatable off-on aswell as control valve 42. The suitably bent end portion 44 (FIG. 2) ofthe pipeline is connected with fittings at 46 in a manner to deliver acontrolled supply of water to the float valve whereby to maintain thedesired level of the water in the container portion of the shell.

The manner in which the main component parts are constructed is shown inFIGS. 3 and 4 in particular. The manner in which the device is installedand the level of water is controlled is shown in FIG. 2. The overallinstallation and use is shown in the horizontal branch of the duct asillustrated in FIG. 1. Accordingly, the construction and use of theherein disclosed invention is believed to be substantially selfevident.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

What I claim as new is as follows:

1. A humidifier designed and adapted to be installed for use within theconfines of a hot air furnace duct comprising: a hollow shellconstituting a container for a predetermined amount of water, said shellbeing of a size and shape to assume an air moistening position in saidduct, said shell having self-contained highly absorbent filler means inline with the path ofthe airstream flowing through the air passage ofsaid duct, a float controlled water supply and level maintaining valvewithin the confines of the hollow container portion of said shell, and awater delivering pipeline communicatively joined to said valve, saidshell embodying a flat horizontal bottom wall, longiludinal verticalsidewalls and a convex airfoil-type top wall having a rounded bluntleading edge and a reduced trailing edge, the profile of the shell beingcomparable in shape to the shape of an airplane wing to promote andachieve maximum air travel efficiency.

2. The humidifier defined in and according to claim I, and wherein saidtop wall is provided with a highly perforated depression providing awell-like pocket of requisite depth, said filler means comprising aporous blocklike sponge and said sponge being fittingly but removablylodged in said pocket and having an exposed top surface which is flushwith the contour of said top wall.

3. A humidifier designed and adapted to be installed for use within theconfines of a duct which is communicatively connected with the plenum ofa hot air furnace comprising: a hollow shell embodying a flat bottomwall, elongated vertical sidewalls joined with marginal edges of thebottom wall, and a convex airfoil-type top wall having a rounded bluntleading edge joined with the cooperating edge of the bottom wall and areduced trailing edge joined with the trailing edge of the bottom wall,the profile of the shell being comparable in shape to the airfoil shapeof an airplane wing in a manner to promote and achieve maximum airtravel efficiency, the median portion of said top wall being providedwith a relatively shallow perforated sumplike depression, saiddepression providing an open top pocket, a porous readily insertable andremovable blocklike sponge, said sponge being fittingly but removablylodged in said pocket and having a convex exposed top surface which iscontoured and substantially flush with the top surface of said top wall.

4. The humidifier defined in and according to claim 3 and wherein onesidewall is provided with pipe means with one end projecting into theinterior of the container portion of the shell and the other endpositioned exteriorly of the sidewall said inward projecting end beingprovided with a float controlled water inlet level maintaining valve.

5. The humidifier defined in and according to claim 4 and, incombination, a valved water supply and delivery line having an endcommunicatively joined with the aforementioned water inlet pipe.

1. A humidifier designed and adapted to be installed for use within theconfines of a hot air furnace duct comprising: a hollow shellconstituting a container for a predetermined amount of water, said shellbeing of a size and shape to assume an air moistening position in saidduct, said shell having selfcontained highly absorbent filler means inline with the path of the airstream flowing through the air passage ofsaid duct, a float controlled water supply and level maintaining valvewithin the confines of the hollow container portion of said shell, and awater delivering pipeline communicatively joined to said valve, saidshell embodying a flat horizontal bottom wall, longitudinal verticalsidewalls and a convex airfoil-type top wall having a rounded bluntleading edge and a reduced trailing edge, the profile of the shell beingcomparable in shape to the shape of an airplane wing to promote andachieve maximum air travel efficiency.
 2. The humidifier defined in andaccording to claim 1, and wherein said top wall is provided with ahighly perforated depression providing a well-like pocket of requisitedepth, said filler means comprising a porous blocklike sponge and saidsponge being fittingly but removably lodged in said pocket and having anexposed top surface which is flush with the contour of said top wall. 3.A humidifier designed and adapted to be installed for use within theconfines of a duct which is communicatively connected with the plenum ofa hot air furnace comprising: a hollow shell embodying a flat bottomwall, elongated vertical sidewalls joined with marginal edges of thebottom wall, and a convex airfoil-type top wall having a rounded bluntleading edge joined with the cooperating edge of the bottom wall and areduced trailing edge joined with the trailing edge of the bottom wall,the profile of the shell being comparable in shape to the airfoil shapeof an airplane wing in a manner to promote and achieve maximum airtravel efficiency, the median portion of said top wall being providedwith a relatively shallow perforated sumplike depression, saiddepression providing an open top pocket, a porous readily insertable andremovable blocklike sponge, said sponge being fittingly but removablylodged in said pocket and having a convex exposed top surface which iscontoured and substantially flush with the top surface of said top wall.4. The humidifier defined in and according to claim 3 and wherein onesidewall is provided with pipe means with one end projecting into theinterior of the container portion of the shell and the other endpositioned exteriorly of the sidewall, said inward projecting end beingprovided with a float controlled water inlet level maintaining valve. 5.The humidifier defined in and according to claim 4 and, in combination,a valved water supply and delivery line having an end communicativelyjoined with the aforementioned water inlet pipe.